Jun 30, 2023, 9:42 pm
Last edit by: SanDiego1K
Dinner reservations and activities: email [email protected]
Big Sur Smokehouse is closed at least thru end of July 2023.
Your stay includes all meals, whether in-room 24 hours a day, lunch on the Sur House Terrace from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or dinner at The Sur House—our award-winning restaurant that is open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Please see our dining menus here.
Signature experiences:
· Morning Movement (Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation, Big SurCus Poi Dance)
· Coast Ridge Hike
· Bees and Big Sur
Falconry
· Foragers Hike
· Redwood Hike
· Sur House Social
· S'mores
· Astronomy
July 2023 activity schedule:
https://www.ventanabigsur.com/pdf/JU..._AtAGlance.pdf
Big Sur Smokehouse is closed at least thru end of July 2023.
Your stay includes all meals, whether in-room 24 hours a day, lunch on the Sur House Terrace from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or dinner at The Sur House—our award-winning restaurant that is open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Please see our dining menus here.
Signature experiences:
· Morning Movement (Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation, Big SurCus Poi Dance)
· Coast Ridge Hike
· Bees and Big Sur
Falconry
· Foragers Hike
· Redwood Hike
· Sur House Social
· S'mores
· Astronomy
July 2023 activity schedule:
https://www.ventanabigsur.com/pdf/JU..._AtAGlance.pdf
Ventana Big Sur- Alila - REVIEW MASTER THREAD
Mar 4, 2020, 11:13 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,878
Recently returned from an award stay. Overall, a fabulous stay paired with great weather. A few things to add to other posts:
- Cell service (ATT and Verizon) is available throughout the property - text for service needs
- Complementary aluminum water bottles, not insulated but attractive
- House car (fleet of Volvo XC90s) was convenient - used it to go to Big Sur Bakery and to Nepenthe
- Gym has two Peloton bikes
- ETA - entire staff was by far the nicest and most engaging staff ever
Last edited by Troopers; Mar 4, 2020 at 11:25 am
Mar 9, 2020, 11:19 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,878
Mar 9, 2020, 12:58 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,669
1 night stay as Globalist, upgraded without asking from base King (points redemption) to Pacific House suite with woodburning fireplace and private hot tub on patio. (At time of check-in, the base room was going for $700++ and the upgraded room was going for $1850++).
Beautiful room, very peaceful grounds, hot tub on private patio was a definite winner. Called in the morning and was granted a 4pm checkout (at checkin, we were told that late check out is based on availability because it's a resort, etc.)
"Social hour" was okay -- comp drinks included a ~$20 local cab, Monterey lager, a white and a rose wine, Four Roses (regular though, not small batch or single barrel), and Patron, along with a cocktail (Jardesca & pink lemonade spritz)... sort of a mixed bag. And the snacks were popcorn or mixed nuts, nothing fancy. I had read a review that indicated a more elevated wine and cheese offering so our expectations were set higher. Also, no welcome champagne (though I'd read a review indicating there was such).
Food & beverage at Sur House was also okay, but nothing spectacular. Kanpachi crudo, squid ink pasta with dungeness crab, and mussels with chorizo were all decently well done. Nothing on the dessert menu stood out so we went to the bar for a drink (they had Van Winkle 12 at a very very reasonable price) and asked whether they had a cheese plate -- they did (not on the menu), and it was fantastic, highly recommend.
Breakfast in the morning was very ordinary, go for the views but only if you can get a table by the window, otherwise just get room service. (Though the 0.3-mile walk to the Sur House is nice.) Globalist benefit covers $82 towards breakfast.
So -- hard product and service are totally amazing, but if we return (and we likely would, for 2 or 3 nights), we'll definitely check out other dining options.
Beautiful room, very peaceful grounds, hot tub on private patio was a definite winner. Called in the morning and was granted a 4pm checkout (at checkin, we were told that late check out is based on availability because it's a resort, etc.)
"Social hour" was okay -- comp drinks included a ~$20 local cab, Monterey lager, a white and a rose wine, Four Roses (regular though, not small batch or single barrel), and Patron, along with a cocktail (Jardesca & pink lemonade spritz)... sort of a mixed bag. And the snacks were popcorn or mixed nuts, nothing fancy. I had read a review that indicated a more elevated wine and cheese offering so our expectations were set higher. Also, no welcome champagne (though I'd read a review indicating there was such).
Food & beverage at Sur House was also okay, but nothing spectacular. Kanpachi crudo, squid ink pasta with dungeness crab, and mussels with chorizo were all decently well done. Nothing on the dessert menu stood out so we went to the bar for a drink (they had Van Winkle 12 at a very very reasonable price) and asked whether they had a cheese plate -- they did (not on the menu), and it was fantastic, highly recommend.
Breakfast in the morning was very ordinary, go for the views but only if you can get a table by the window, otherwise just get room service. (Though the 0.3-mile walk to the Sur House is nice.) Globalist benefit covers $82 towards breakfast.
So -- hard product and service are totally amazing, but if we return (and we likely would, for 2 or 3 nights), we'll definitely check out other dining options.
Mar 9, 2020, 2:00 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,878
"Social hour" was okay -- comp drinks included a ~$20 local cab, Monterey lager, a white and a rose wine, Four Roses (regular though, not small batch or single barrel), and Patron, along with a cocktail (Jardesca & pink lemonade spritz)... sort of a mixed bag. And the snacks were popcorn or mixed nuts, nothing fancy. I had read a review that indicated a more elevated wine and cheese offering so our expectations were set higher. Also, no welcome champagne (though I'd read a review indicating there was such).
Mar 9, 2020, 10:28 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,669
There's refills at social hour so nbd anyhow -- the spritzer thing was decent.
Apr 15, 2020, 7:13 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: San Diego
Programs: Alaska, American, Delta, Aer Lingus, Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 21
Apr 26, 2020, 1:58 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Nomad
Programs: AA MM EP, QF Gold, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTT, HH Gold, National Exec, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,107
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara outside Santa Barbara is also quite isolated, but still charges $50/day for parking (given the Covid situation, they're currently also offering self-parking at the bargain rate of $25/night). So, yeah, never underestimate properties' willingness to charge for things.
May 16, 2020, 9:17 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA ExPl, DL PM, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, probably some others
Posts: 4,091
This hotel is offering the ability to book premium suites online with points right now - the rate listed is "confidential", but at checkout, it resolves to the expected 48,000 pts for a standard suite and 60,000 pts for a premium suite.
May 16, 2020, 10:19 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 116
I only see the premium suites during the dates I want. Which suite is the best for couples?
there’s Big Sur Forest Shower Suite, Big Sur spa Suite, and Vista hot tub suite
May 17, 2020, 10:11 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,031
Not open for the beginning part of June now. They rather unceremoniously canceled my reservation. I only even found out because it was missing from my Hyatt account and the points where returned.